Many divorced parents in Georgia pay legally mandated child support to help raise their children. But many other parents, due to economic problems, are unable to pay. And under the law, they can be jailed for failing to pay child support. In fact, over the past decade just in Gwinnett County, 3612 people were arrested and jailed for failing to pay child support, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. They served an average of 127 days.
Thanks to these numbers, it can be very important to learn about how to reduce child support in Georgia. It could keep you out of jail. Here is what you need to know if you are trying to reduce child support.
The Georgia child support law is Georgia Code 19-6-15. One of the most important things about the law is that it after each modification there is a two-year waiting period. So you can't go back for a modification every six months, for example. This means that you better get your numbers right when you do get a chance.
Either parent may file for a modification of a child support order, as long as there is a material change in circumstances. To be material, the change of circumstances must be such that it would lead to a reduction in the amount paid. The parent must be able to show a substantial change in the parent's financial situation.
The method the courts use to determine child support is called the shared-income method -- and it is pretty complicated. The easiest way to figure out how much you will owe is to use the Georgia Child Support Calculator. At that point, you would make a petition to a court, showing exactly why your child support should be reduced.
Again, choose your moments to modify wisely. Good luck.